Fluid control mechanism



v Feb.'--27, 1940. a. HOFFMANN I I I 2,192,042

FLUID CONTROL MECHANISM Filed July 19, L937 Fig.1.

' lnvenggr'g Bruno Ho momn by fine/:7 I is t'bowr 'neg.

Patented Feb. 27, 1940 UNITED STATES FLUID CONTROL MECHANISM Bruno Hofl'mann, Spandau, Germany, assignor to General Electric of New York Company, a corporation Application July'19, 1937, Serial No. 154,516 In Germany September 25, 1936 2 Claims. (01. 137-153) The present invention relates to fluid control mechanisms for controlling the pressure or like condition of fluid conducted from a source to a consumer. The invention is of special significance in connection with elastic fluid power plants in which elastic fluid turbines are supplied with fluid from a source of fluctuating pressure.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement of fluid control mechanisms which is simple in construction and eflicient in operation.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the following description and the claims appended thereto in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of a fluid control mechanism embodying my 20 invention, and Fig. 2 shows an application of the mechanism for controlling the pressure of elastic fluid conducted from a source to a turbine.

"The arrangement comprises a' casing ill with a cover Il secured to the casing by bolt means l2. 5 A diaphragm i3 is clamped between the casing In and the cover II and defines there-. with two spaces or chambers l4 and. IS. The lower portion of the'casing III forms an inlet channel It to which elastic fluid is conducted from a source'by a conduit I1 secured to the casing, and an outlet channel I8 through which fluid is discharged to an outlet conduit l9 which may be connected to a turbine or like consumer. The inletchannel I6 communicates with the discharge channel IS in accordance with my invention through the space M below the diaphragm 13. The space It forms apart of the fluid path from the source to the consumer. Fluid is conducted from the inlet channel IE to the space M by a tube or tubular member 20 secured to the casing l and held in position by means including bolts 2|. The upper end of the tube 20 forms an opening or orifice 22 in close proximity to and directed against a central portion of the lower surface of the diaphragm 13. The tube together with the diaphragm l3 forms in substance a valve or nozzle. The space M communicates with the outlet channel It! through an opening 23. I

The space I above the diaphragm l3- communicates in the present instance with the inlet conduit l1- through a pipe 24 whereby the upper surface of the diaphragm is subjected to the fluid pressure in the conduit I1 and the inlet channel I6. The diaphragm I3 is so mounted as to normally permit unrestricted flow.

During operation, fluid flows from the conduit 11 through the inlet channel l6 and the tube into the space M, whence it flows through the opening 23 and the outlet channel It into the-discharge conduit I9. During low pressure condition in the inlet conduit l1 and accordingly in the space I5 the diaphragm I3 is slightly flexed upward andtherefore offers little resist- |0 ance to the discharge of fluid from the opening 22. If now the fluid pressure in the conduit l1 increases, the diaphragm I3 being subject to this fluid pressure is forced downward, thereby decreasing the space between the lower surface =of the diaphragm and the opening 22 of the tube 20. This effects throttling of the fluid pressure discharged from the tube 20 into the space M whereby the pressure in the space I4 and consequently in the discharge conduit I9 is main- 2 tained substantially constant during fluctuations of the pressure in the inlet conduit IT.

My invention further includes the provision of a bypass for fluid with regard to the orifice 22. This is accomplished by the provision of an opening 25 in the side wall of the tube 20 which communicates through an opening 26 in the casing directly with the space H. With this arrangement a part of the fluid flows from the inlet channel l6 through the opening 25 in the tube 20 directly into the space I 4 without passing through the orifice 22. The amount of fluid thus bypassed may be controlled by means of a needle valve 21 adjustably secured to the casing Ill. The provision of such bypass is especially desirable during starting operation of a turbine or like consumer connected to the outlet conduit I9 because the bypass permits a quick flow of fluid through the control mechanism.

My invention is especially important when used for controlling the pressure of elastic fluid ahead of the nozzles of small steam turbines. The cost of ordinary valve and pressure control mechanisms is prohibitive in arrangements including small steam turbines. I have found that the pressure of the elastic fluid supplied to such turbines can be accurately controlled by the provision of my fluid controlling mechanism ahead of the inlet nozzles of such turbines. An arrangement of this kind, as shown in Fig. 2, comprises an elastic fluid generator 30 having a burner 3| and a heating element 32 in the present instance shown as a coil. Elastic fluid discharged from the heating element is conducted through a fluid control mechanism 33 to a small elastic fluid turbine at. The fluid control mechanism 33 is arranged in close proximity to the turbine 3d and has its inlet conduit l'i connected to the generator and its outlet conduit i9 connected to the turbine. This mechanism permits control of the elastic fluid pply to the turbine and, as explained above, eliminates fluctuations of the pressure of the elastic fluid discharged from the elastic fluid generator.

Thus, with my invention I have accomplished an improved construction and arrangement of elastic fluid control mechanisms whereby the pressure or like condition of an elastic fluid may be readily controlled. The mechanism comprises a device responsive to changes of a fluid condition and includes a diaphragmor like element which at the same time forms a part of a valve or nozzle to be adjusted in response to changes of a fluid condition.

Having described the method of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Fluid control mechanism including the combination of a casing with a cover, a flexible diaphragm held between the casing and the cover to form a first and a second space therewith, means for conducting fluid from a source to a consumer comprising an inlet channel and an outlet channel formed in the casing; means connecting the inlet channel with the outlet channel comprising the first space and a tubular member having an inlet communicating with the aieaoaa inlet channel and an outlet orifice opening towards a central portion of the diaphragm, the

diaphragm at low pressure in the inlet channel offering little resistance to the flow of fluid through the outlet orifice, means connecting the second space to theinlet channel to cause deflection of the diaphragm in the direction of the outlet orifice with increasing fluid pressure in the inlet channel, and means including an opening in the side wall of the tubular member for bypassing a part of the fluid with regard to said orifice.

2. Fluid control mechanism including the combination of a casing and a cover, a flexible diaphragm held in the casing and the cover and forming a first and a second space therewith,

an inlet channel and an outlet channel formed in the casing, means for conducting fluid from the inlet channel through the first space to the outlet channel comprising a tubular member having a conically shaped end face forming a sharp edge orifice closely spaced with a central portion of the diaphragm to discharge fluid re-. ceived from the inlet channel towards the surface of the diaphragm, the diaphragm at low pressure in the inlet channel oflering little resistance to the flow of fluid through the outlet orifice, means subjecting the second space to a condition of the fluid in the inlet channel to cause deflection of the diaphragm in response to changes of the fluid condition inthe inlet channel, and adjustable means including an opening in the side wall of the tubular member and a needle valve for bypassing a part of the fluid with regard to the orifice.

l BRUNO HOFFMANN. 

